Page 53 of In This Moment
Run! Don’t do this! I have plans for you, My son.
What in the world? It was like the Bible verse from the other day had come to life here in his car. What was it again? Jeremiah something. All about God having good plans for him. Dwayne nodded to himself. He believed that. One day when he was grown up and out of Hamilton, one day when he moved far away from the gangs and the streets, good things were going to happen.
He believed God on that.
But for now... for now he had to take care of business. And if a few of his blows landed on Billy Benson, so be it. Anything could happen in a Halloween fight.
Dwayne waited till ten o’clock sharp. Then he slipped out of his brother’s car. It was pitch-dark outside, cloudy. No moon or stars overhead. He raised the hood on his sweatshirt and shoved his hands deep in his pockets. All down the street he watched gang members do the same thing.
Soon as the police found out, they’d break things up. The fight wouldn’t last long. He moved fast, his body smooth and athletic. A couple colleges were looking at him now. After today, after he proved he wasn’t soft, Dwayne would get serious. The Bible club was good for him. Jesus was, too.
He met up with eight of his guys and together they turned the corner. That’s when Dwayne saw them. Their rivals were coming, filling the alley. Walking closer. “This is it!” one of them shouted. “Halloween fight!”
“You oughta run while you can!” one of Dwayne’s boys yelled back.
Dwayne’s heart sped up. His blood rushed through his body. No one was going to call him soft. He pushed his sweatshirt sleeves up, but before he could take a swing, before he could land his fist against the face of the guy rushing at him, there was a popping sound.
Just a single pop.
At first Dwayne wasn’t sure what it was or where the sound came from, but then—in a single second—he felt it. Sharp pain in his chest and something hot. He looked down and saw the blood just as his knees buckled.
What had happened? Someone had shot at him and the fight hadn’t even—
“No guns!” The voice was Billy Benson’s. Dwayne could tell. “The rule is no guns, man! Someone call 9-1-1!”
Dwayne was on the ground now, sprawled out. He couldn’t move his arms or his legs, but he could feel. The aching pain in his chest, the way his sweatshirt was wetter now. Soaking wet.
“Dwayne, buddy... talk to me.” In all their high school days together, all their nights cruising with the gang, Dwayne had never dreamed he’d see this.
Billy Benson was scared.
His eyes were wide and his face was white as paper. He was saying something, screaming at the guys to call... call someone. Dwayne wasn’t sure. Couldn’t hear the noise anymore. Billy’s voice, the other guys. People running out of the alley.
He couldn’t hear any of it.
And suddenly a woman police officer knelt on his other side. “Dwayne, can you hear me?”
“Yes.” Everything else was dim now. No sound at all. But he could hear the woman beside him. She didn’t look like a normal person. Her eyes were too bright. Dwayne looked at her badge.
ASPYN.
Dwayne’s eyes were heavy. The effort it took to play fourth-quarter football was nothing to what it took to keep them open now. He looked at the woman. “I’m... shot.”
“You’re going to be okay, Dwayne.” She squeezed his hand. “God is with you.”
God.Dwayne felt regret like a fire through his body. “I’m sorry, God. I’m so sorry. I didn’t listen.” The policewoman took his hand. Peace washed over him, peace like he’d never known before. Dwayne took a final look at Aspyn, and then he closed his eyes. “My friends... are wrong... about you police.”
“It’s okay, Dwayne.” Aspyn’s voice was soothing in a way Dwayne had never heard before. She stayed there, very near his face. “Relax, child. God has you.”
“You... you only... care. Right now.” Dwayne’s eyes were closed but he could see clearly now. Most police officers only wanted to help. The way God had tried to help him.
“God loves you, Dwayne.” Aspyn was still holding his hand. With her other one, she touched her fingers to Dwayne’s forehead. “You’re going to be okay.”
Dwayne wanted to say something. His body was letting go. He felt lighter than before. The pain fading. “God... God warned me... He told me to go home.” The words in his head were slow now. He couldn’t think right. And there, with the world fading around him, Dwayne remembered Principal Quinn’s words. He could see the man. His smile and warm eyes.With Jesus, you never die.
But Dwayne was dying. He could feel the life leaving his body. He should’ve listened. Should’ve stayed at school. Dwayne’s words were barely a whisper. “Is it true? With Jesus, you never die?” He had seconds left, no more.
“Yes, Dwayne.” Aspyn’s voice covered him in warmth and peace.
